St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

St Neots eighth league victory in an unbeaten run of eleven matches took them back to the top of the UCL Premier Division leaving Daventry Town two points adrift but with a massive six matches in hand. St Neots did what they had and were expected to do with a comfortable win but they were probably disappointed that they did not record a more convincing victory given that Corinthians played the final 32 minutes of the match with ten men after the dismissal of their skipper Michael Harman. St Neots were effective enough especially in defence where goalkeeper Luke McShane was never really tested and with Michael Hyem unavailable due to work commitments his place was adequately filled by his brother Chris. Making only his third senior start he looked totally at home in an unaccustomed full back role winning the vote as man of the match. Next up is St Neots third visit to Sleaford – a ground where they have yet to win a league fixture.

On a wet and miserable evening St Neots were slow to make an attacking impact with a solitary deflected shot by Rob Hughes in the first twenty minutes. Then Corinthians mounted their first real attack and could have taken the lead when a not too good punch away from a corner by Luke McShane fell to Bobby Drain on the edge of the area and his net bound shot appeared to be blocked on the line by one of his own players! That was the wake up call St Neots needed and quickly Adam Jones joined the attack to shot narrowly wide. The lively Dan Jacobs was again making his presence felt up front and he was brought down on the edge of the penalty area resulting in a narrow angled free kick by Tony Scully which beat the keeper but glanced off the cross bar. It was Jacobs who was the St Neots livewire as he beat his marker only to see his shot deflected for a corner and then he cut in past two defenders but shot narrowly wide. Four minutes before the break Scully went on a mazy run past defenders to see another shot deflected and from the resultant corner Jones brought the save of the first half from home keeper Bradley Wilson.

Corinthians did manage a direct shot at McShane in their first attack after the break but after 50 minutes a fine move saw Liam Harrold cleverly sidestep a defender to send a perfectly weighted pass through for Dan Jacobs to score his sixth goal in as many games for St Neots. Eight minutes later the home side were reduced to ten men when skipper Michael Harman picked up straight red card for two offences – bringing down Liam Harrold and then kicking the ball at him as he lay on the ground. From that point on Corinthians concentrated on defending with little seen of their attack St Neots persevered but only added one further goal with Liam Harrold again the provider as his pass to Dan French gave that player his first goal in St Neots colours after 64 minutes. Subsequently as the rain turned to snow St Neots efforts to boost their goal difference was constantly thwarted by goalkeeper Bradley Wilson who made excellent saves to deny Harrold, Jacobs (twice) and Scully. The only other notable incidents were substitutions - the return to the side after three months by Luke Knight and the brief introduction of substitute Edward Torto who had no time to make any impact.

• Team: McShane, Jones, Hyem (C), Webb, Fuff, Gent, French, Hughes, Harrold, Jacobs, Scully
• Subs: Kenneford (for Scully 76 mins), Knight (for Hughes 83 mins), Torto (for Harrold 89 mins) & Trebes
• Man of Match: Chris Hyem

Match date: Tue 2nd February 2010